Treviso have some chances to qualify for the first time to the quarterfinals: basically they must win in Grenoble (obviously) while hoping that Agen defeat Harlequins (quite hard to see) or that Bordeaux defeat Connacht (not so impossible).Agen and Bordeaux will play at home but they are both already out.There are other options for Treviso, but even less unlikely

Also Zebre are still theoretically running for the qualification, but they should hope that Bristol lost at home by Enisei after having won in Russia 11 tries to zero two days ago.

A word about spectators: according to EPCR there were 100 spectators in Sochi for the Enisei's match and 400 in Tbilisi for the Locomotive's match (but they seemed even less from the cameras). I mean, this can't help the "big nations" to be more proactive on including the T2 nations in their competitions

victorsra wrote:New Krasnoyarsk bandy stadium... will it be possible to play rugby with a artificial turf there? Solves winter problem.

Impressive. A quick google search told me that the bandy season runs from the start of November until the end March. I have my doubts that the let rugby in this stadium in between.

How to grow rugby worldwide?Look at the world ranking in July. Teams ranked 1-10 have to play one team from 11-20 (they don't play in a regular competition) away the next year. 11-20 play 21-30 away and so on. Yes, it really is that simple.

Is there room for an up&under?It's not a rhetorical question, I really can't understand.Surely a player can hit the roof, if he wants; but I can't judge if an average up&under is higher or lower than that roof

Armchair Fan wrote:+1, but hey, if Madison Square Garden is able to hold NBA games on NHL ice...

I think (artificial) gras on a rugby sized pitch of (120*70m=8400sm²) might be another beast than a 420sm² basketball court.

How to grow rugby worldwide?Look at the world ranking in July. Teams ranked 1-10 have to play one team from 11-20 (they don't play in a regular competition) away the next year. 11-20 play 21-30 away and so on. Yes, it really is that simple.

You understand that there is a big difference to playing basketball on ice on the floor. Quite a different feeling, if you lay on the ice artificial turf. Yes, if it is technically possible, it will be very traumatic. No rugby organization will allow such a field for competitions.In Krasnoyarsk there is an indoor football arena. But he can only be used for rugby training. It is not suitable for official games. If you do not believe me, ask Pervuhin. Get a specific answer.http://www.enisei-stm.ru/faq/add.php

RugbyLiebe wrote:Impressive. A quick google search told me that the bandy season runs from the start of November until the end March. I have my doubts that the let rugby in this stadium in between.

As the long-term experience of the rugby season in Krasnoyarsk shows, goes 7 months. From April to October. March and November already have big weather risks.

Hell in Munich it wasn't possible to play rugby in at least one week in march. This was the case in all of the last 10 years due to a frozen/and or snow covered pitch. In 20-30% of the years even for the whole march. There is a reason I played ice-hockey on a pond every year as a kid.Also every single November we have temperatures under 0°C and snow. It is not Siberia, but I can totally relate.

If anybody says that rugby is a winter sport, the person has no idea what the word "winter" means.

How to grow rugby worldwide?Look at the world ranking in July. Teams ranked 1-10 have to play one team from 11-20 (they don't play in a regular competition) away the next year. 11-20 play 21-30 away and so on. Yes, it really is that simple.

How to grow rugby worldwide?Look at the world ranking in July. Teams ranked 1-10 have to play one team from 11-20 (they don't play in a regular competition) away the next year. 11-20 play 21-30 away and so on. Yes, it really is that simple.

They will determine home stadiums after the draw of Challenge Cup in June. But after the successful organization of the junior tournament in Kadinigrad, Kaliningrad is a priority for the Enisei. I think that there will be two or even three matches of the Enisei. Sochi and Krasnodar spare options. It is obvious that the Enisei is not interested in playing with empty stands.

STMKY wrote:They will determine home stadiums after the draw of Challenge Cup in June. But after the successful organization of the junior tournament in Kadinigrad, Kaliningrad is a priority for the Enisei. I think that there will be two or even three matches of the Enisei. Sochi and Krasnodar spare options. It is obvious that the Enisei is not interested in playing with empty stands.

Doesn't Kaliningrad have very rough winters as well? I mean not Siberian rough, but still not really a place to play outside from November until March?

How to grow rugby worldwide?Look at the world ranking in July. Teams ranked 1-10 have to play one team from 11-20 (they don't play in a regular competition) away the next year. 11-20 play 21-30 away and so on. Yes, it really is that simple.